Tiger Woods had a golden opportunity to enhance his image and reputation at The Masters – and blew it.

He had the chance to park his ego and withdraw from the tournament following an illegal drop at the 15th on Friday, yet didn’t take it.

The world of golf will have breathed a quiet sigh of relief that Tiger didn’t go on to triumph under a cloud of contention at Augusta.

The sport will also have gained another telling insight into the American’s golfing DNA; the ruthless streak that has been at the core of his being since he turned pro in 1996.

Nick Faldo believes Tiger’s credibility and the sport’s integrity would have received a double shot in the arm if he had declined his ‘get out of jail card’ at Augusta - and he is right.

Let’s not forget, Woods is world No1 and a global ambassador for the sport. Every move he makes, on and off the course, is analysed inforensic detail, and on this occasion he let his pride get in the way of the right decision.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t believe for one moment he was cheating. I also believe the Masters Committee was within its rights to only impose a two shot penalty.

Yet the fact remains, he signed for the wrong score when he didn’t include that two shot penalty on his Friday card. In golf, that equals disqualification. No ifs, no buts.

Would a lesser known golfer be afforded the same discretion? Probably not. I was disqualified for a scorecard error after my first ever Irish Open on tour in 1996.

I had been leading at one stage on the Friday, blew up on the Saturday but ended tied on 36th. I was pleased with my performance and had a cheque for 2,634 quid winging its way into my bank account.

But the Monday after the tournament, I took a call from Andy McFee of the European Tour. Naively I thought he was going to invite me to play in the following week’s Scottish Open, but his opening gambit was: “What did you have at the 14th on Friday?”

My mind frantically rewound. I had hit the bunker, two putted and bogeyed, yet a four was on my scorecard. I was disqualified there and then, telephone in hand. No ifs, no buts. No money either.

I do have some sympathy for Tiger because the media spotlight he plays under is intense. Unlike others, every angle of every shot is analysed. The slightest mishap is replayed in HD on a TV loop.

I also don’t believe he was aware he breached the rules; but the bottom line is, he did.

If he had gone on to don the Green Jacket in Butler Cabin on Sunday, it would have been a tainted triumph.

Would Tiger have cared? No, but his success would have cast a dark shadow over Augusta.